by Joel Bradley | Publisher: Infinite Skills | Release Date: July 2013 | ISBN: 9781771371155

In this 3ds Max 2014 training course, expert Joel Bradley introduces you to the fundamentals of using this 3d software from Autodesk. 3ds Max is used for modeling and animation, and contains a plethora of tools to allow you to create models for games or movies and even to create movie effects and movie pre-visualization. This tutorial is designed for beginners, and covers fundamental features that have been around for a while, and new features to the 2014 version of 3ds Max.Some of the topics that Joel covers include; file and project management in 3ds Max, essential viewport navigation and visual feedback controls, an introduction to the enhanced menu system option, state sets - as a render layer manager and live link to After Effects, and scene management in 3ds Max using Containers, Xref objects, the Layer manager, Groups, and more. This video tutorial also covers the new features in the Mental Ray engine, how to use String options, enabling hidden features, UVW Mapping, mParticles, mCloth, Hair and Fur, and much much more!Once you have completed the training video for Autodesk 3ds Max 2014, you will have a comprehensive understanding of this 3ds software and how to use the tools to create your own incredible models and animations. Working files are included, allowing you to follow along with the author throughout the lessons.

1. Introduction
   • What You Will Learn 00:03:08
   • A Word About Gamma Handling 00:01:17
   • The Working Files And Setting Up Our Max Project 00:02:21
2. Working With 3Ds Max
   • The File Management System 00:06:16
   • Working With Units 00:06:40
   • Viewport Navigation 00:06:26
   • Viewport Configuration 00:05:04
   • Nitrous Viewport Quality 00:06:12
   • The Quad Menu System 00:05:18
   • The All Important Command Panel 00:04:00
   • Working With The Ribbon 00:06:54
   • Managing Workspaces And The Enhanced Menus 00:07:12
   • Search All Actions 00:04:40
   • Send To Maya, Mudbox, Softimage, MotionBuilder 00:04:39
   • Auto Backup 00:03:30
   • Isolate Workflow 00:04:14
   • 3DS Max Gamma Workflow 00:03:44
3. Working In 3D Space
   • Getting The Best From The Transform Gizmo 00:05:10
   • The Reference Coordinate System 00:03:35
   • The Home Grids 00:05:26
   • Pivot Point Manipulation 00:04:06
   • Snaps And How To Use Them 00:07:05
4. Organizing Scene Assets
   • Layer Management 00:07:23
   • State Sets Workflow 00:09:03
   • The Power Of Groups And Object Naming Tools 00:05:53
   • Selection Sets 00:06:28
   • Using Containers 00:08:04
   • XRef Scenes 00:07:15
   • XRef Objects 00:05:45
   • Outputting Files Using State Sets 00:04:02
   • After Effects Composite Link 00:07:13
5. Working With 3DS Max Primitives
   • Workflow For Primitives 00:09:27
   • Extended Primitive Types 00:06:02
   • Space Warps 00:08:05
6. Modelling Tools
   • The Basics Of Splines 00:07:34
   • Patches 00:06:39
   • Polygon Modelling - Sub-Object Tools 00:09:18
   • Box Modelling Technique 00:11:43
   • Poly By Poly Technique 00:06:26
   • Sub-D Technique 00:07:39
7. The Power Of 3ds Max Modifiers
   • What Is A Modifier And How The Stack Works 00:05:03
   • Useful Modelling Modifiers 00:08:09
   • Useful Animation Modifiers 00:06:50
   • Useful Selection Modifiers 00:07:08
   • Parametric Modelling With Modifiers 00:09:09
8. Rendering Options
   • Common Render Output Controls 00:08:40
   • Quicksilver 00:06:58
   • Mental Ray Unified Sampling 00:08:36
   • Mental Ray Image Based Lighting 00:07:01
   • Working With Final Gather 00:07:29
   • Sky Portals And Final Gather 00:07:03
   • Photon Mapping And Final Gather 00:06:49
   • Light Simulation With iray 00:07:04
   • Creating Caustics 00:07:47
   • Using String Options 00:05:52
9. UVW Mapping Tools
   • The UVW Mapping Modifier 00:08:59
   • The Unwrap UVW Modifier Options 00:07:49
   • Exploring The Unwrap UVW Editor 00:09:26
   • Unwrap Using Pelt Mapping 00:07:38
10. Working With Materials And Maps
    • The Material Editor Modes 00:09:25
    • Standard Material Types 00:05:47
    • Mental Ray Material Types 00:12:41
    • Working With Maps 00:07:56
    • Displacement Mapping 00:08:15
    • Using Utility Maps 00:07:31
    • Using The Render To Map Feature 00:07:16
    • The Render Surface Map Dialogue 00:08:27
11. The 3DS Max Camera
    • Free And Target Camera Types 00:09:30
    • Working With The Camera Settings 00:05:09
    • Depth Of Field Options 00:06:07
    • Motion Blur Types 00:07:41
    • The New Perspective Match And 2D Pan And Zoom Tools 00:07:56
12. Lighting Tools
    • The Spotlight 00:06:40
    • Photometric Light Type 00:08:22
    • Working With The Daylight System 00:07:16
    • Exposure Controls 00:05:44
13. Particle Tools
    • Non-Event Driven Particle Systems 00:06:45
    • Particle Flow Operators 00:08:33
    • Deflectors 00:08:06
    • Forces 00:06:37
    • New Particle Flow Operators 00:07:20
14. Simulation Tools
    • Populate 00:07:49
    • Working With Cloth 00:06:17
    • Applying Hair And Fur 00:06:12
    • MassFX Workflow 00:05:40
    • Working With Rigid Bodies 00:08:22
    • mCloth Controls 00:08:05
    • How mParticles Work 00:09:32
    • mParticle Operators 00:07:04
15. Conclusion
    • Thank You 00:01:39
    • About The Author 00:01:52